In this turnaround season that included a runner-up finish in the league regular season, the Wildcats had two players land spots on the conference First Team in forward Troy Loggins and goaltender Atte Tolvanen.

It marked the first time since 2012 — when the Wildcats were in the now-defunct CCHA — that they had multiple players so honored.

Loggins currently has 44 points, which is sixth in the nation, and 21 goals, which ties him for ninth. If that isn’t enough, he also leads the country in shorthanded goals with five.

By earning a spot on the First Team, Loggins is now a finalist for Offensive Player of the Year along with Minnesota State forwards C.J. Suess and Marc Michaelis. That award and other similar awards will be announced by the league next week.

Northern Michigan University goaltender Atte Tolvanen stands ready to take on Alaska-Fairbanks skaters in February 2017 at the Berry Events Center in Marquette. On this night, the Finland native tied the all-time NCAA record with five consecutive shutouts. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

NMU head coach Grant Potulny praised Loggins for his strong season and the progress that he’s made since his previous two seasons.

“Throughout the whole course of the year, whether it’s 5-on-5 or power play or penalty kill, ‘Loggy’ has a huge impact for us,” he said. “He’s very deserving of that award and I think he’s just kind of scratching (the surface of) what he can become as a player.”

Tolvanen currently boasts a 21-8-1 record in net for the Wildcats, which is good for third in the country. His award is an upgrade from last season where he was named to the Second Team.

“Atte had an outstanding year for us and at critical moments in the season, he made critical saves,” Potulny said. “You could probably even go back to the last time we played Bowling Green (in January), he made some critical saves in that series and that allowed us to get to our game both nights.

“We were victorious and from that point on, I thought he was just outstanding. We went on to win nine in a row and he has that uncanny knack to make that huge save at the most crucial time.”

Northern Michigan University goalie Atte Tolvanen, right, waits for the point-blank shot of Michigan Tech's Brent Baltus from the slot during their WCHA game on Nov. 11 at the Berry Events Center in Marquette. Tolvanen stopped this shot and all others he faced in NMU's 4-0 victory. (Houghton Daily Mining Gazette photo by Bryce Derouin)

Northern also earned two spots on the Second Team in junior forward Adam Rockwood and defenseman Phil Beaulieu. Rockwood leads the nation in assists with 37 and his 45 points puts him fifth. Rockwood has the most assists in a season by a Wildcat since 2001-02.

“I thought Adam had a year of a first-teamer,” Potulny said. “He’s just all about the team. He’s obviously honored to be on the Second Team and honored to be recognized. For him, it’s just part of the process.

“The impact he’s had on our program, you don’t get guys like Adam through transfers, you get those through recruitment and the initial recruiting process. He plays in the middle of the rink for us, but his vision is 200 feet in every situation. The most important times of games, Adam makes a play.

“In overtime, to shoot it off (teammate) Denver (Pierce)’s stick to win in overtime against Alaska. That game there, that might’ve been the deciding factor to have home ice or be on the road right now. Adam has just had an outstanding year.”

Beaulieu, meanwhile, is tied for seventh nationally in assists with 29, but leads all defenseman in that category as well as points with 39. Beaulieu’s point total is the highest for an NMU defenseman since the national championship season of 1990-91.

Troy Loggins

“All year, he has definitely shown the ability that he has and has shown his talent,” Potulny said. “I think he’s matured a ton in his approach to the game. He’s become a very consistent player for us. He plays every situation for us and does a great job quarterbacking the power play. He’s got a bright future in front of him.”

The Wildcats also had two players earn spots on the Third Team. One went to senior forward and cocaptain Robbie Payne, who leads Northern and is tied for sixth in the nation with 22 goals.

Payne is also Northern’s Hobey Baker Award candidate and became the 35th player in program history to score 50 career goals.

“Any time you can get recognized by the coaches or media that you’re an all-league player, it’s an honor,” Potulny said. “We’d never be where we are today without Robbie pulling us along early in the year with his offensive productivity.

“We weren’t humming on all cylinders yet, but Robbie was. His ability to generate offense early in the year really helped us get going in the right direction.

Atte Tolvanen

“He’s a streaky goal scorer. There’s moments when he scores where you wonder if he’s going to get two or three tonight because he can do that with the best of them. He’s had a huge impact on our team and he’s a very talented player.”

NMU’s other Third Team honoree was sophomore winger Darien Craighead. He has 17 goals and 33 points and leads the nation with six game-winning goals.

“He has a great approach to the game,” Potulny said. “Part of it is being a sophomore, he and Phil are still maturing in their approach and how they prepare.

“Earlier in the year, you always saw the ability that Darien had and I think it was probably early December where he just took off offensively. It was how he mentally approached each game.

“He’s got a great body and he’s long and lean. His hockey IQ is off the charts and he’s got an outstanding stick. The way that he prepares like he has to come out and be ready to play the last three months of the year, he’s as good as almost anybody in this league.

“He’s a huge part of our team and he can play with anybody.”

Potulny also said that the awards the six players received were not only great for them, but the program as well.

“Some individuals were recognized today, but you don’t get individual recognition without team success,” he said.

NMU hosts Bowling Green State starting tonight in a best-of-three WCHA playoff semifinal series with the winner earning a spot in the WCHA Championship game on Saturday, March 17.

Ryan Stieg can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 252. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.